Kartoitettaessa

Kartoitettaessa is a Finnish verbal participial form derived from kartoittaa, meaning to map or chart. It functions to express a circumstance in a subordinate clause, typically translated as “when mapping,” “in the process of mapping,” or “while mapping.” The form signals that the action of mapping is ongoing or general at the time another action occurs. It is a formal, technical construction often found in reports, regulations, and methodological descriptions.

Formation and usage: The form is built from the verb stem kartoitt- with the suffix -ttaessa, producing kartoitettaessa. It behaves as a non-finite, passive-participial form; it does not convey person or number and its subject is usually implicit or indefinite. In texts, kartoitettaessa links a descriptive circumstance to the main clause, enabling precise, conditional, or contextual statements without introducing a new finite verb.

Common contexts: Kartoitettaessa appears frequently in environmental, planning, geographic information systems (GIS), and regulatory writing, where processes must be described in relation to the act of mapping. It can refer to simultaneous activities, data collection, or analysis that occurs during mapping.

Examples:

- Kartoitettaessa paikkatietoja kerätään useista lähteistä. (When mapping, location data are gathered from multiple sources.)

- Kartoitettaessa luonnon monimuotoisuutta huomioidaan sekä kenttäinventoinnit että kaukokartoitus. (In mapping biodiversity, both field surveys and remote sensing are considered.)

Etymology and related forms: Kartoitettaessa is formed from kartoittaa with the -ttaessa suffix, a common pattern in Finnish for signaling concurrent action. Related forms include other -ttaessa constructions from various verbs, used similarly to set the context for the main clause.

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